Call for Articles on Members Native Plant Gardens

The CNPS Horticulture Program has begun running a series of articles in the CNPS Bulletin on native plant gardens of CNPS members. The first one appeared in the Oct.–Dec. 2013 issue on page 7. Depending on the response, this series could become a regular feature in the state newsletter. The purpose of the series is to inspire others to create their own native plant gardens, or to add natives to an already existing garden.

If you have a native plant garden you feel is special and beautiful, and if you would like to share it with others in CNPS, send us an inspiring article draft of 575–600 words. We hope you’ll include your experiences with the garden, as well as just describing what’s there. Also include two high-quality photos (in jpg format, not close-ups) that show off your garden, and one-sentence captions for each.

Send your submission to Susan Krzywicki, CNPS Horticulture Program Director, at skrzywicki@cnps.org. If we feel your article can be published, we will work with you through the editing process until it’s in a final form. We look forward to hearing from a number of CNPS members!

ConocoPhillips Refinery, Nipomo

We are commenting on the railroad spur extension at the Phillips Refinery in Nipomo, limiting our comments to procedural, plant and ecological issues. We will leave to others to react to the statement on p.2-21 that “The feedstock will be sourced from oilfields throughout North America based on market economics and other factors. These could include fields as far away as the Bakken field in North Dakota or Canada.”

In public meetings the company denies this. We just love those tank train fireballs from Baaken crude. The problem with this multinational corporation is the manner in which it got approval to increase production by 10% in 2008 without mentioning the railroad spur, which it introduced as a new project two months later. It then stated that the spur would not induce an increase in production. Duh! Added to that is the county making an analysis of a southern route into the OHV riding area as part of the same document, but failing to address this through the normal CEQA process of evaluation of alternatives.

Historic Vegetation Photo Archive

As noted in President’s Notes, we need as a scientific organization to start recording vegetation changes over long time periods. We need your past, present, and future photographs that record vegetation at locations that can be identified and revisited. For example, the vegetation on the old dunes north of Spooner’s Cove in Montana de Oro appears to be changing, and we would like pictures from the past. If you are taking photos in future, when you return from the field we would like you to open up Google Earth, put the curser on the place you think you were standing, and copy the latitude and longitude at the base of the screen. You can email us the picture and the metadata. Any county landscapes that show the plant community reasonably well will be welcome. I am also going to start photographing the Carrizo Plain, both on a grid and at points of particular interest. I would love to have volunteers work with me on this.

Drought in California

As everybody is talking drought, there seems to a certain inertia in regard to doing anything about it at the county and agency level.

The jet stream is weakened to the point that it no longer shoots from west to east, but instead wanders like a drunk across broad latitudes, bringing Baja-like conditions to us and polar conditions to the Midwest. The intensity of the high pressure in the North Pacific is extreme, and thus there is a very strong possibility that the spring of 2014 will echo that of 2013 and be rainless. With this in mind, an organization that treasures wildflowers is going to have a hard time finding any. We have already had to cancel the yearly “fungal foray” in the Cambria pines.

In terms of impacting our vegetation, this could be a “geological” event, in which another year of drought could start a cascade of ecological collapse. But each collapse is followed by rebirth, possibly with a different mix of plants. Maybe we will be able to enjoy the cholla cactus fields of Creston where all those grapes used to be. Last year perennial shrubs still made a good show, living off the rains of late 2012, but this year might result in some mortality.

CNPS is very interested in recording the effects of this drought, so please record what you see for the sake of science, and let us know.

Field trips will still be very interesting, as we will be looking at a landscape in-extremis, and we don’t often get that chance. I want this recorded . . . read further under Conservation.

All three of Bonnie’s drawings this time are of manzanitas. One is a repeat of the endemic rare plant commonly known as Morro manzanita or Arctostaphylos morroensis. As you will see, it is included here to serve as a basis of comparison.

The other two drawings are new. One is of a single manzanita plant (maybe a clone) that grows near the mouth of Turri Creek where the Elfin Forest group’s 3rd Saturday Natural History Hike goes when it visits the salt marsh. It is currently in flower. The last is of a species commonly called, dacite manzanita (A. tomentosa ssp. daciticola). It grows nearby in the hills above the mouth of Turri Creek.

There are two other manzanita species that could also complicate the identification of our mystery manzanita. The first and most problematic is Oso manzanita (A. osoensis). Its recorded range is further away from our mystery, but still in the Turri Creek drainage. It is recorded as occurring on higher ridges and plateaus west of Hollister Peak on sandstone or dacite outcrops.

The last possibility is the Arroyo de la Cruz manzanita (A. cruzensis). It is this species that our plant would be if we used Robert F. Hoover’s 1970 edition of The Vascular Plants of San Luis Obispo County, California, for identification because it is the only species (other than A. morroensis) recorded for the area. Dacite manzanita and Oso manzanita were not recognized by Dr. Hoover as valid names.

So which name should we apply to our unknown manzanita? All who have attended these hikes readily concluded that the new manzanita is NOT the Morro manzanita. So if it is not Morro manzanita, what manzanita is it? This question, it turns out, is not easy to answer. This is where the third manzanita drawing comes in. It represents the dacite manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. daciticola) which is one of two species found growing on the dacite, a granite-like rock which is dominant rock making up the Morro Sister Peaks. Outcrops of this rock weather into thin, infertile soils.

Dacite manzanita is found only within the Turri Creek drainage. I assume most will agree that, if our unknown is not Morro manzanita, it shows a much closer, but not perfect match to the dacite manzanita.

The identification of manzanitas is not easy. First, there are many species (60+ and many subspecies and varieties) recognized as growing in California. Second, I suspect all who have even a passing familiarity with California native plants can identify a manzanita. This means the genus has an easily recognized set of characteristics. It also follows that telling its many species apart is going to be a challenge because species characters must be of necessity minutely different or technical in nature.

However, they can be divided into groups based on the length of their leaf stalks (petioles) and the shape of the leaf blade base. One group, which includes the Morro manzanita, has an easily seen but short (< 4 mm) leaf stalk (petiole) and a smooth, rounded to chordate blade base. A chordate leaf base is going to resemble the top of a valentine heart. The other group has petioles either absent or so short (< 2 mm) that they would not easily be seen unless one looks carefully. Their leaf bases also resemble the top of a valentine heart (chordate). Neither of these traits is present in Bonnie’s Morro manzanita drawing which was probably based on a plant from Montana de Oro State Park. But they are found in the other two drawings.

There are other technical attributes of course, but most of these are not visible without a microscope or hand lens. One character that does not require a microscope, but does require some “digging” is whether or not a manzanita produces a large swelling at the junction where the root turns into the base of the stem. In those that don’t produce the swelling, which includes the Morro manzanita, branching doesn’t usually begin until the main stem (trunk) is a few inches or more, sometimes up to a foot or more, above the ground surface. These are called tree manzanitas due to that single trunk.

Those that branch from the swelling below ground are commonly called shrub manzanitas. Manzanitas that produce this structure tend to form their first branches below ground which produces a bunch of stems in a tight cluster. Again this trait should eliminate the Morro manzanita from consideration because it usually begins to branch at or above the soil surface.

So if it is not Morro manzanita, which of the other manzanitas is it? The Arroyo del la Cruz manzanita, as currently defined, should range from Cambia northward. The Los Oso manzanita is reported to be a relatively tall shrub (3 to 12 feet) and is reported to be restricted to dacite or sandstone outcrops. The dacite manzanita occurs just up slope from our mystery manzanita but is also supposed to be restricted to dacite outcrops. Our mystery manzanita grows on a relatively narrow terrace well above the salt marsh and just below the foundation fill used to raise South Bay Boulevard above the Morro Bay estuary. It is growing in coarse sandy soil probably derived from the fill. It is growing with species characteristic of coastal scrub with a large compliment of weeds. That is, it is growing in a classic, disturbed, man-made habitat. Such habitats are known to allow unusual individuals such as hybrids to occur out of typical range or habitat and become established. In other words, range and habitat can’t be used to limit the possible ID.

So what is its correct identification? I’m still quite unsure. Even the Cal Poly Herbarium is not much help here. I think I could find all three possible species among the specimens within each single species folder in the Cal Poly Herbarium. I do have to admit that the differences among the three short petiolate, chordate leaf-based species depends on the often subtle nature of the kind of hairs (pubescence or trichomes) found on twig and leaf. As stated earlier, these traits require at least a hand lens to observe. I think it is safest to leave it as a mystery manzanita. Maybe, a Cal Poly Senior Project or Masters student will take on this project and find the correct answer for us.

It appears that all the species from the Turri Creek drainage are closely related, at least based on appearance. With additional modern taxonomic techniques maybe it may even be determined that Dr. Hoover was correct back in 1970 when he concluded that all (except Morro manzanita) are the same species.

P.S. After writing the preceding paragraphs, I went back out and observed the three pictured manzanitas again. This time I walked through the Elfin Forest to reacquaint myself with the variability found among Morro manzanita individuals. The plants along the Board Walk are similar to Bonnie’s drawing. But if you observe the manzanitas along the Habitat Trail that goes off the north-east curve and goes toward South Bay Boulevard, you will find that the Morro manzanitas get shorter and shrubbier and their leaves have shorter petioles and more deeply lobed leaf bases. It’s a mini-cline. In other words they begin to resemble more and more our mystery manzanita. So, I’m forced to conclude, at least tentatively, that our unknown manzanita is simply an extreme form of Morro manzanita. If so, it may be the most northern individual of the species. I conclude this in spite of all of us assuring ourselves that is was clearly different from the Morro manzanita we all had pictured in our minds. I still think there is a good student project here, however.

by Dirk Walters, illustrations by Bonnie Walters | Dirk and Bonnie Walters are long-time CNPS-SLO members, contributors, and board/committee participants. In addition to his work at Cal Poly, Dirk is the current CNPS-SLO Historian.

Description: Before the February 6th chapter meeting starts we are having a free plant ID workshop for our members and other participants who are interested in practicing their identification skills, learning the local flora, and looking at live material more closely in a casual and fun setting. (more…)

Dr. Matteo Garbelotto from the UC Berkeley Forest Pathology and Mycology Laboratory will present information and updates on Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and the SOD Blitz project. SOD is a serious exotic disease threatening the survival of tanoak and several oak species in California. Currently SOD is found in 14 coastal California counties, from Monterey to Humboldt. Researchers have discovered that Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes SOD, spreads most often on infected California bay laurel leaves. Some management options are available, but they are effective only if implemented before oaks and tanoaks are infected; hence, timely detection of the disease on bay laurel leaves is essential for a successful proactive attempt to slow down the SOD epidemic.

The SOD-blitz project is designed to inform and educate communities about the disease and its effects, get locals involved in detecting the disease, and produce detailed local maps of disease distribution. The map can then be used to identify those areas where the infestation may be mild enough to justify proactive management. Since SOD has been confirmed in Monterey County, it is important that we in San Luis Obispo County continue to monitor for SOD, especially along our northern border.

In May 2013, members from the SLO CNPS Chapter as well as other community members participated for the first time in the SOD Blitz project surveying 872 trees from Arroyo Grande to the northern SLO County boundary and collecting samples from 89 trees. There were no SOD positive trees found during the 2013 survey. We will need to continue monitoring for this devastating disease and are planning to participate in the SOD Blitz in 2014.

Please join us Thursday, February 6, at the SLO Chapter CNPS meeting, 7pm, at the SLO Vets Hall to learn more about SOD, the SOD Blitz project, and help us plan for the 2014 SOD Blitz. We will be having an oak identification workshop prior to the meeting (starting around 6:15).

I want to thank all the in those that helped organize the 2013 SOD Blitz, especially John Chesnut for preparing maps of survey areas, Kim Camilli (Forest Pest Specialist, CalPoly/Cal Fire) and Marc Lea (SLO County Weed management Area) for helping to organize, and all the volunteers that did the collecting. We need all of you help us keep up regular monitoring so we can keep San Luis Obispo County SOD free and maintain our beautiful oak woodlands and forests.

It’s November in a very dry year which was preceded by a dry year. Most native plants are waiting for the rains. The small amount of rain that fell in the last week in October I doubt will be considered significant, i.e., sufficient enough to initiate plant growth. So Bonnie and I have punted on the selection of the plant profiled in this issue of the Obispoensis. We have chosen to make a scan of an all too common grass which is generally known as Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon.

According to Wikipedia, it has lots of common names in many different languages. Gardeners often refer to it as devil grass when in mixed company. I suspect they use more colorful language when they are trying to eliminate it from their lawns and gardens. The common name, Bermuda grass, reminds us not to depend on names to give us accurate information. Yes, Bermuda grass does grow in Bermuda, but it also grows throughout the warmer parts of the world. It grows on every continent that has areas where periods of low temperatures are rare or of very short duration. In the U.S. it is found in almost every one of the lower 48 states. It is especially common in the warmer half of the country.

Where does Bermuda grass come from if not Bermuda? It has at least three other wild varieties and all of them, including the wide-spread variety, Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon, are found in South-East Africa. Only C. d. var. dactylon has a worldwide distribution.

It was probably introduced to the U.S. in the 18th century, whether as a lawn grass or for forage crop is not clear. The species is able to survive long periods of drought by simply “dying back” to its extensive net-like system of rhizomes (horizontal underground stems). Aerial shoots can arise from any of its multitude of nodes (region of stems that produce leaves and buds). It is this capability to form long and extensively branched rhizomes that explains its use as a lawn grass. However, its weakness is its habit dying back during drought. This means that one’s nice green lawn will have brown spots or, if a Bermuda grass lawn, turn completely brown during the dry season.

Bermuda grass also doesn’t share an area well — it is extremely aggressive. In experiments where Bermuda grass is grown with various other herbaceous species, it inhibits the other species. In some cases Bermuda grass growth is better when paired with other species than when it grows alone. Needless to add, its aggressive growth is why gardeners refer to it as devil grass.

Where there is adequate water, Bermuda grass puts much of its growth into its green aerial shoots which makes it an almost great pasture grass. Why “almost great?” It is because, under some environmental conditions, livestock poisoning has been traced to it. The species is a prolific pollen producer so it is a major cause of discomfort by allergy and asthma sufferers.

I hope it goes without saying that Bermuda grass is not a California native and must be considered a noxious weed! It is most common in disturbed, vacant lots and poorly maintained lawns throughout the human dominated portions of our chapter area. It can also be found on roadsides and dryer edges of streams and salt marshes or wherever woody plants are widely scattered. It does seem to behave itself because it doesn’t seem to compete against trees and shrubs very well. It does not spread into native plant areas as it is intolerant of shade.

The scientific name, Cynodon, is derived from Greek and means “dog tooth.” The dog teeth are the distinctive small scale-like leaves that arise from the nodes of the rhizomes. Dactylon is also from Greek and refers to finger- like structures. In this case it refers to the usually 4 or 5 thin inflorescence branches which somewhat resemble the fingers of a human hand with the fingers widely separated.

2013 Most Valuable Volunteer – Suzette and I would like to acknowledge this year’s plant sale Most Valuable Volunteer. The decision was difficult because we have so many outstanding members who volunteer annually, but this year one person stands out and that person is Bill Shearer. Bill has helped at the sale for many years and has always given it “his all.” From bringing plants in his truck to spending the whole day selling plants and then taking down, you could say he has done it all! Thank you for your many hours of service and kindness to customers, Bill, you are greatly appreciated. Congratulations, you are this year’s MVV. -John and Suzette

The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide non-profit organization of amateurs and professionals with a common interest in California’s native plants. The society, working through its local chapters, seeks to increase understanding of California’s native flora and to preserve this rich resource for future generations. Membership is open to all; click here for details. Our members have diverse interests including natural history, botany, ecology, conservation, photography, drawing, hiking, and gardening. Current and prior issues of Obispoensis are available here. To view our local chapter officers and committee chairpersons, click here.

Bermuda Grass

It’s November in a very dry year which was preceded by a dry year. Most native plants are waiting for the rains. The small amount of rain that fell in the last week in October I doubt will be considered significant, i.e., sufficient enough to initiate plant growth. So Bonnie and I have punted on the selection of the plant profiled in this issue of the Obispoensis. We have chosen to make a scan of an all too common grass which is generally known as Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon.

According to Wikipedia, it has lots of common names in many different languages. Gardeners often refer to it as devil grass when in mixed company. I suspect they use more colorful language when they are trying to eliminate it from their lawns and gardens. The common name, Bermuda grass, reminds us not to depend on names to give us accurate information. Yes, Bermuda grass does grow in Bermuda, but it also grows throughout the warmer parts of the world. It grows on every continent that has areas where periods of low temperatures are rare or of very short duration. In the U.S. it is found in almost every one of the lower 48 states. It is especially common in the warmer half of the country.

Where does Bermuda grass come from if not Bermuda? It has at least three other wild varieties and all of them, including the wide-spread variety, Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon, are found in South-East Africa. Only C. d. var. dactylon has a worldwide distribution.

It was probably introduced to the U.S. in the 18th century, whether as a lawn grass or for forage crop is not clear. The species is able to survive long periods of drought by simply “dying back” to its extensive net-like system of rhizomes (horizontal underground stems). Aerial shoots can arise from any of its multitude of nodes (region of stems that produce leaves and buds). It is this capability to form long and extensively branched rhizomes that explains its use as a lawn grass. However, its weakness is its habit dying back during drought. This means that one’s nice green lawn will have brown spots or, if a Bermuda grass lawn, turn completely brown during the dry season.

Bermuda grass also doesn’t share an area well — it is extremely aggressive. In experiments where Bermuda grass is grown with various other herbaceous species, it inhibits the other species. In some cases Bermuda grass growth is better when paired with other species than when it grows alone. Needless to add, its aggressive growth is why gardeners refer to it as devil grass.

Where there is adequate water, Bermuda grass puts much of its growth into its green aerial shoots which makes it an almost great pasture grass. Why “almost great?” It is because, under some environmental conditions, livestock poisoning has been traced to it. The species is a prolific pollen producer so it is a major cause of discomfort by allergy and asthma sufferers.

I hope it goes without saying that Bermuda grass is not a California native and must be considered a noxious weed! It is most common in disturbed, vacant lots and poorly maintained lawns throughout the human dominated portions of our chapter area. It can also be found on roadsides and dryer edges of streams and salt marshes or wherever woody plants are widely scattered. It does seem to behave itself because it doesn’t seem to compete against trees and shrubs very well. It does not spread into native plant areas as it is intolerant of shade.

The scientific name, Cynodon, is derived from Greek and means “dog tooth.” The dog teeth are the distinctive small scale-like leaves that arise from the nodes of the rhizomes. Dactylon is also from Greek and refers to finger- like structures. In this case it refers to the usually 4 or 5 thin inflorescence branches which somewhat resemble the fingers of a human hand with the fingers widely separated.

by Dirk Walters, illustrations by Bonnie Walters | Dirk and Bonnie Walters are long-time CNPS-SLO members, contributors, and board/committee participants. In addition to his work at Cal Poly, Dirk is the current CNPS-SLO Historian.

Northern California Botanists to Present a Symposium

symposium.jpg

Northern California Botanists are presenting a two-day symposium titled, Northern California Plant Life: Botany for a Changing World, to be held at California State University, Chico, January 13 – 14, 2014.

The symposium will include an exciting line up of topics ranging from alpine ecology to Northern California botanical discoveries, and a third day of workshops to choose from. The symposium will also include an evening reception and banquet with keynote speaker David Ackerly of the University of California Berkeley, addressing “Climate Change and Conservation.”

The symposium is open to anyone: botanical enthusiasts, professionals, and students. For a detailed program and registration information, see: www.norcalbotanists.org

Description: Sunday, January 5, 9:00 a.m. The Point Buchon trail gives us access to the wide coastal shelf between the local hills and the rugged coast line south of Coon Creek. The area is relatively undisturbed and early winter wild flowers should be in evidence.

Meet at the parking lot at the southern end of Pecho Valley Road, Montaña de Oro SP at the start of the Coon Creek trail.

Bring water and snacks, and dress in layers for changing weather. A hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes are recommended.

For more information, call Bill at (805) 459-2103 or email: bill.waycott@gmail.com.

Resources

About CNPS-SLO

The mission of the California Native Plant Society is to increase understanding and appreciation of California’s native plants and to conserve them and their natural habitats through education, science, advocacy, horticulture and land stewardship.
The local San Luis Obispo Chapter, CNPS-SLO, was founded in 1967 and is one of 33 chapters statewide.